Paul Alexander Nalty

NALTY Paul Alexander Nalty walked into the arms of his Heavenly Father in the piney woods of Alabama on Thursday, July 16, 2009, the Feast of Our Lady of Carmel, while praying and thirsting for the Lord. He was 72 years old. Paul A. Nalty was a devoted husband, a loving and so very proud father, and a dedicated deacon of the Archdiocese of New Orleans for 35 years, serving at St. Francis Xavier and the St. Louis Cathedral. He was a graduate of Georgetown Preparatory School, Georgetown University and Law School and practiced with the Chaffe McCall law firm. He was an associate judge in the Second Instance of the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese. With his wife Jane, Paul founded the Willwoods Community, whose ministries include marriage enrichment, affordable housing, the Fiat Press and WLAE-TV. Paul was a Knight of the Order of Malta and a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. He received honorary degrees from the University of New Orleans and Our Lady of Holy Cross College. He received the John Carroll award from Georgetown University, the Spes Unica award from Our Lady of Holy Cross College, the Martin de Porres award from the Southern Dominican Province and the John Paul II award of the Catholic Foundation. This past spring, Paul and Jane Nalty were honored with the Servus Fidelis award of the Willwoods Community. He was awarded the CANOVA medal by the Monumenti Musei & Gallerie Pontifice for support of the Vatican Museums and was recipient of the "Role Model" award of the Young Leadership Council. Mr. Nalty was founding President of the University of New Orleans Urban Waste Management and Research Foundation. He was a Distinguished Visiting Lecturer at the University of Shenyang, University of Liaoning Province, and Dalian Maritime Institute in the People's Republic of China. Mr. Nalty was a member of the board of the Congregation of the Holy Family and past board member of the Catholic Foundation as well as other numerous religious and civic organizations. He was a member of the Boston and Pickwick Clubs, the Knickerbocker Club in New York City and the Metropolitan Club in Washington, D.C. Survivors include his wife of 47 years, Jane Hanemann Nalty; and his five children: Monsignor Christopher Nalty, Mathilde Mellon (husband Josh), Jennifer Polk (husband Ted), Kevin Hanemann Nalty (wife Joey) and Ariane Zewe (husband Charles); grandsons: James Polk, Connor Polk, Xavier Mellon, Patrick Nalty, Grant Nalty and Charlie Nalty; and granddaughters: Meaghan Polk and Katie Nalty. Paul is survived also by his sister, Joy Nalty Hodges; and sisters-in-law: Mary Hanemann Lystad, Betsy Shaw Nalty and Jane Mills Nalty. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lucille Mooney Nalty and William Halpin Nalty, his sister Marilynn Nalty, his brothers Donald and Mooney, his brothers-in-law Robert Lystad, William Hodges and Jimmie Hanemann. Paul is survived also by a community of believers who shared his life and love, and strengthened his faith. For this his family is very grateful. May God grant that one day we will rejoice and be glad with him in the Communion of Saints. Vespers will be celebrated at St. Francis Xavier Parish on Metairie Road on Monday, July 20, 2009 at 6:00pm, and a Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Stephen Church on Napoleon Avenue at 12:00 noon on Tuesday, July 21. The Funeral Mass will be preceded by Visitation from 10:00 a.m. until noon. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate gifts to the Willwoods Community (http://www.willwoods.org), 3330 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite 345, Metairie, LA, 70002. To sign the family guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com.